I'm on Subutex for Neuropathy complications I'm in excrutiating pain?

I'm in so much pain I did spelling errors- and that never happens. I've been in pain since Friday morning. I've called my pain management/addictionist and he was nice enough to prescribe me vicsous lidocaine- but it didn't work more than 15 minutes. I'm on a high dose due to the nature of my chronic pain, and I've never once in the seven years I've been clean from narcotic medications EVER had to go to the ER for pain management. I can't take this any more. I Have a dentist visit in two hours- and he's going to look at me for 15 minutes and send me on my way. He believes that I need my filling to be looked at again and I have a severe TMJ flare up. Regardless, I'm sitting here bawling my eyes out for the second time in four hours. I need help. Is there anything they can do? It's NOT suboxone, it's subutex- not that I know if it makes a difference or not, but I'm on 10mg 2-4 times a day- since Friday, I've taken if 3-4 times a day, usually it's twice. My rx bottle reads four times a day 1 1/2 tabs. I'm rambling but I'm desperate. I'm freaked out that they won't help me. I don't know what could help at this point. I've tried everything from motrin, lidocaine, tylenol, subutex, orajel.. it hurts, it hurts so badly. I don't want to go to the ER in a bumpy car ride if nothing at this point can help. Please help me!

Added 17 May 2011:

I went to the ER yesterday morning. I was treated absolutely AWFUL by the doctor. I actually went to ask him for predisone to stop the swelling for the TMJ flareup I knew at that point was the problem- and he ended up wrenching my mouth open and saying I dind't have any cavities. I said, I tried to TELL you I have TMJ. and I'm having a flareup. He said, you didn't mention that, it's interesting now that I've found no cavities you have pain somewhere else. You say you've done everything at home, then why are you here? He then started asking me if I had a pain contract with my doctor.

Now, to clarify, I don't have a "pain contract" but I was VERBALLY asked by my doctor to call him- not ask him- call him if someone is rx'ing me narcotics. I didn't understand what the ER doctor was blabbering about, so I said, what, exactly, are you talking about? He said, "Not to get hostile" while the nurse (the guy was a PA, btw, and my husband works for this hospital in corporate- not a doctor my husband, either) THEN the nurse started asking me over and over if I was on Suboxone. I finally snapped at her, please keep in mind how much pain I was in. "I'm ON SUBUTEX. I'm NOT ON ADDICTION THERAPY MEDS!!!"

I was sent out into the waiting room, crying my eyes out, and called my pain management doctor. As they were attempting to calm me down, the same rude nurse came out snapping, "Your arm is too thin! pull your pants down!" I said in shock, "Excuse me?!" "PULL YOUR PANTS DOWN!" in the waiting room. In front of patients. The PA came hurrying out quickly and said, "take her into the bathroom." I asked her what she had in the needle (still on hold with the pain management doctor's office) and she flat out refused to tell me what it was. My doctor came on and said, they are going to give you a shot of morphine- please make sure that it's double the usual dose. At that point, it was done.

At this point, my husband came in, spoke with the clinical nurse ie; patient advocate and she was horrified. Husband then stood, arms folded, when the PA came out with a 180 in his attitude. He said in a threatening tone, "I called your doctor." I said, "Yeah, they told me- when your nurse gave me a SHOT not TELLING me what it was, THEY are the ones that TOLD me what you did." While his attitude had a 180 he still felt the need to be an ass. My husband put his hand on my shoulder to calm me down and took care of the rest. He demanded they give me another shot with double the amount and then demanded predisone and put in that my wife asked for that, you chose to ignore it. It was an awful experience and I finally got pain relief at midnight from the predisone.

The PA at my pain doc explained that she herself has been treated in the same manner, and it's not right, but it's getting more common. All in all, my dentist who saw me late yesterday afternoon is convinced I somehow fractured my jaw from clenching given the amount of stress I've been under, and he's hoping that I've healed enough and won't have to go in to the oral surgeon to get my jaw wired- he's not certain I have one but he thinks I do.

I hope that explained it and thanks so much for the well wishes. I'll be talking to my pain management doc next week about fentanyl and cymbalta, so thanks guys for everything.

Responses (3)

Take a deep breathe and explain for what you are taking the subutex. You say for neuropathy but also discuss being clean from opiates and a tooth/ jaw problem. What is causing the majority of the pain? Your neuropathy if it is musculoskeletal might respond well to Lyrica or Cymbalta. Both of these are non narcotic, non addictive and are prescribed for neuropathy.

Concentrate on getting the mouth looked at including the tooth and the TMJ. Then you can investigate medications for the neuropathy. One step at a time is what I try to do. It keeps the anxiety at bay and helps me concentrate when I'm in pain.

I have MS- besides subutex, I'm on Neurontin and quite a few more meds for it. Subutex works for the daily pain, and neurontin helps with other issues. It's something that has worked for me for the past 7 years.

I've not once had a medical emergency so bad I required the ER. Not since I've been clean. My dentist has 15 minutes for me today, then he's stated (he just now called back) he'll send me back in for an appointment sometime before Wednesday. The though of waiting another 24 hours is bad enough. The pain is horrendous. My husband watched in horror as I broke down and started crying last night, and I NEVER cry when I'm in pain. I had four blissful hours of relatively simple to deal with pain- a 5 on the scale and it's now at a nice calm 8. I feel it starting to pull and throb again, but I can't take this and I need to go the the ER. I hope to god they can help me- I can't take it any more.

I'm sorry that your in such pain. Since you have reached an 8 on the pain scale maybe it would be best to go to the ER if the dentist doesn't help get some of this pain under control. I'll be praying for you. And keep us posted.

That is a really high dose of subutex compared to most people, it has a ceiling effect at 32 mgs. It sounds like maybe your pain management doctor rx'ed it for you, whomever did rx it, CALL THEM NOW if you can. I know some pm's are rx'ing it for pain, not widely used for pain tho. Bupenorphine itself is a powerful pain med, but they way they designed it in the suboxone/subutex dissolvable pill form, the body doesn't really process it the same way it would in any other form and it doesn't relieve most pain. It worked great for my fibro, for others, it doesn't seem to help.

Subutex at 16 mgs per day will block opiate for 3 to 5 days, BUT, there is some type of Plan B for people like you who need some pain relief, Call your subs doctor, to see if they will do whatever it is they do as a Plan B( not the plan B birth control, there is a way to over ride the effects of subs, they won't hint what it is, Pharmacist may also know)When you are feeling better, maybe you can add some more details to your post.Saying some big Prayers for ya.

I called him over the weekend- my addiction doc- he's not one to allow someone to suffer- so he rx'd me something he hoped would numb my mouth. He specifically said that he can't up the subutex any more but he wasn't adverse to not helping me, but I believe he's called me out of town this weekend- plus, he was closed till today. It's now at the point where I can't wait any more- I'll be going to the ER, right now, with my bottles and have them call him immediately as he's said in the past. I'll call him and call my dentist as soon as I get back. Thanks so much, I can definitely use the prayers- I'll post back as soon as my head is clearer and the pain is able to be managed, and explain more about what's going on. You guys have already helped me calm down enough to stop breathing so fast and my nerves are a bit more steady. Please continue to pray.

AN

Anonymous16 May 2011

God Bless and Godspeed, have the ER call the suboxone hotline or a pharmacist if they don't know this Plan b, my counselor indicated there was one, but didn't want to give any clues.

this is just a suggestion there is a neurologist here where I live who uses a lot of different things to get his patients with neuropathy to be as pain free as possible, he even uses stronger pain meds with drugs like Laurie suggest like Lyrica, Cymbalta, I have mild neuropathy, I am able to control diabetes with diet, I have numbness and manyt times after sitting I start to get up and if I am not careful due to lack of feeling I will fall forward, have you ever tried Fentanyl along with Lyrica or Cymbalta? these are only suggestions that he uses, I of course don't take Fentanyl, he prescribes the patches in vvery strong doses for people with neuropathy, It is my sincere hope that you find a doctor who can find the appropriate medication/medications that will work best for you. you are in my prayers. keep us posted

I thought but did not say I have never heard of Subutex being used for neuropathy, of course that does not mean that it can't be and may really help before it's over it may be a matter of giving it some time, Pain is one thing that is difficult to cope with, it affects so many aspects of a persons life, eating, sleeping, ability to cope with lifes problems, your general outlook, only to name a few, but again I pray that this does not continue to disrupt your life

Subutex not suboxone at low doses has been found to be effrctive for pain. In fact it is used in Veterinary medicine for pain. I failed Lyrica and Neurontin and CYMBALTA whew! I thought I was gonna die. I only take 1-2 mg as needed not every day... but as needed. I just started it and it does take the edge off. I have never been an addict or have taken narcs much at all, just dont tolerate them. I was horrified to hear about your ER experience. I am an ER RN. I couldnt imagine this happening! I would def. File a formal cimplaint! I worry about the stigma that goes w/subutex. People need to properly educate themselves and not judge. Subutex is NOT only for addicts. If this were true they wouldnt give it to my critters when they go to the vet!